John Growney can't wait to return to the rodeo that started it all for him.

On May 5, Growney, the owner of the Growney Brothers Rodeo Company based out of Red Bluff, Calif., will be the grand marshall of the 66th Annual Scott Valley Pleasure Park Rodeo in Etna.

In 1977, the Etna rodeo was the first rodeo he did and said that it holds a special place in his heart.

Growney is a well known stock contractor in the rodeo world and provides the livestock to some of the top professional rodeos in the western United States.

"We've been very blessed," Growney said in a phone interview with the Daily News. He added that he is grateful to the rodeo in Etna for giving him his start.

"They called me last year and asked if I wanted to be the grand marshall," Growney said. "I knew I had to be there."

Despite his company having another event during that time, John was able to find the time to make it to Etna this year.

For Growney, what makes going to so many events each year so memorableare the people he meets and the friendships he develops, as he travels to the approximately 25 rodeos his company works on each year.

"I enjoy talking to people like you," he told the Daily News. "I cherish all the friendships we've made along the way. Many times you go to events for so many years that you become family. You get to know a lot of folks after doing this for 36 years."

Until he passed away at 18 in 1994, Growney owned the legendary bull "Red Rock," who, despite having 309 attempts by riders trying to ride him for 8 seconds, no one was able to ride him for the required time during a pro rodeo event.

The only person to have ridden Red Rock for 8 seconds was the late rodeo rider Lane Frost, who had the 1994 film "8 Seconds" made about his life. Frost rode Red Rock for eight seconds on four occasions during a best-of-seven matchup called "The Challenge of the Champions," which took place in different locations in 1988. The event was not an officially sanctioned pro rodeo event.

Growney said that he prides himself on taking good care of his livestock.

"They're you're babies," he said.

Laurie Tippit, who does public relations for the Scott Valley Pleasure Park Rodeo and is on the board of directors, said that Growney "is a well known and well liked" person in the rodeo world.

She said that she and her fellow rodeo board members are ecstatic to have someone like John as the rodeo's grand marshall this year.

"He loves what he does," Tippit said. "Every time I talk to him he's always so pumped up and gets you excited. He should be a motivational speaker."

Page 2 of 2 - Despite his very busy schedule, Tippit said that John has shown great interest in this year's rodeo and has been constantly checking in and seeing how they are doing as they prepare for the big day.

Growney also has roots in Scott Valley and said that his great grandfather lived in Scott Valley in the 1870's to 1890's.

"I know my heritage is there," he said. And, he added, that since he was young he has beem involved in rodeo and agriculture, and through this he has gotten to know many people in Siskiyou County and has developed close bonds with them.

"I'm looking forward to seeing old friends," John said.

When asked what it means to him to be coming back to the rodeo in Etna, Growney paused for a moment.

"I'm getting emotional talking to you right now," he said. "That's the type of guy I am."

Growney, who was born and raised in Red Bluff was the CPRA bull rider of the Year in 1976. But, he said, around that time he knew he wanted to begin a career raising livestock for rodeos. After doing amateur high school and college rodeo, he started doing professional rodeos back in 1979.

"I knew I wanted to do this for the rest of my life," Growney said.

Below is information on the rodeo.

The grand entry begins at 1 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, and kids and seniors are $5. Before the rodeo there will be the Job's Daughters Pancake Breakfast at the Masonic Hall from 6 to 11 a.m.

The Sunday Rodeo parade featuring Growney as grand marshall is at 10 a.m. and goes through downtown Etna.

The pre-event rodeo is at noon and features kids calf riding, Mutton Bustin', and Jr. Steer Riding.